We hope our fellow Tsintzinians are all doing well this Valentine's Day! Please enjoy this beautiful true love story that began in Jamestown nearly 100 years ago. The happy ending inspires us to remember all of our loved ones and to cherish the special opportunities we have to create memories of a lifetime. Let's consider honoring our seniors this Valentine's Day by making plans to attend the Jamestown Tsintzinian Reunion this summer, July 28-31. Bring your entire family for an experience they'll be talking about...for the next 100 years! Please contact me for more information on what we’ve got planned for this summer! — Kathleen Costianes, spartankoukla@gmail.com
From long-time Tsintzina Society member and past president Helen Laskaris, a family remembrance:
As most people probably would agree, the month of February is a great time to celebrate some romantic stories. Well, this is a true story of two families that will demonstrate exactly that. However, their unique story began one July, at our Jamestown, New York celebration.
You see, Alex and Nikonia Laskaris from Wilmington, Delaware, decided in the early 1930s, after hearing about the “Greek get-together,” that they would travel to Jamestown, New York, so that they could meet other families living in their new country, the U.S.A. Unbeknownst to them, Peter and Sophia Nicholakis from Cambridge, Ohio, made the identical decision.
After both couples had children who were old enough to become travelers, they took their families with them every summer to the “meeting place.” As luck would have it, eventually, George Laskaris and Angie Nicholakis met each other during those middle 1940 years, and began dating. After what was considered a “proper courtship,” George and Angie were united in marriage on January 9, 1949. They enjoyed their very loving and romantic marriage for 65 years! During that time together, Angie and George continued traveling to Jamestown with their two boys, Alex and Peter.
Over the years, Alex married Sarah, and Peter married Helen. Alex and Sarah Laskaris have returned many times to Jamestown with their children, and Helen and Pete have continued the great tradition. In fact, Pete has served on the Tsintzina Society Board, and Helen has served as Board President. Their tradition still continues today as Pete and Helen’s sons, Athan and Nick, have brought their wives to the “Greek meeting place.”
Memories of Jamestown are wonderful things to those in attendance, as they offer us comfort, make us smile, and sometimes, even bring a tear to our eyes. Every year that we spend time in Jamestown presents us another opportunity to create, and yet, another moment to recall, at a later date. This memory causes us to stay connected, and at the same time, may urge us to enjoy the future. It affords us a beautiful and exciting chance to meet “new” relatives and form wonderful family bonds that we may not have had before.
Please come to Jamestown to embrace your memories, experiences, and love of one another, and most importantly, to share them with others. These precious memories are great gifts, and if you attend Jamestown, you will never stop making them!
Remember this: You can go anywhere and Greek dance, but in Jamestown, you dance with history. Come this year to Jamestown! You may find your true love!